Asbestos disposal and recycling are essential for protecting people from the harmful effects of asbestos exposure. Laws and regulations describe how asbestos should be disposed of, while new technologies may lead to safer recycling of asbestos. Contact a licensed asbestos professional if you suspect you have asbestos in your home.
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Why Is Asbestos So Dangerous?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring set of minerals mined from the earth. Asbestos exposure has been linked to life-threatening illnesses such as malignant mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer.
Asbestos is a fibrous material that releases tiny fibers when disturbed or when it deteriorates. Anyone near it can inhale or ingest the fibers if not protected with safety gear.
Asbestos fibers inside the body get stuck in tissues, causing damage and inflammation. This leads to illness in some people. The more frequent and prolonged the asbestos exposure, the higher the risk of getting sick years later.
Where Is Asbestos Found Today?
Because of its useful properties, asbestos has been used in many applications over the years. There’s a record of its use dating back to ancient times.
Asbestos was used extensively as insulation in homes and on ships in modern times, specifically, the materials used to make vinyl flooring, roofing tiles, siding, paint, and patching compound. Asbestos was also used in heat-resistant fabrics, around steam pipes, and in car brakes and clutches.
The U.S. government does not currently ban asbestos. Strict regulations limit asbestos use and are supposed to ensure workers and others are protected from exposure.
Because it has never been banned and because asbestos was used so extensively in many industries, it lingers in many places. People today might encounter asbestos in older homes and public buildings:
- Caulking
- Ceiling tiles
- Floor tiles
- Heat resistant fabrics
- Joint compound
- Insulation
- Roofing shingles
- Siding
- Textured paints
- Walls and floors around wood-burning stoves
Workplaces in the past also used asbestos extensively and might still contain asbestos in:
- Automotive brakes and clutches
- Boilers
- Cement
- Chemical containers
- Electrical conduits and insulation
- Heat-protective materials
- Insulation
- Pipe coverings
- Roofing materials
- Sealants
- Textiles
The Importance of Handling Asbestos Safely
Asbestos found in older buildings can often be safely left in place. It poses no risk of shedding fibers and exposing people if it is intact or encapsulated. If the asbestos is damaged or needs to be removed to do other work, it poses serious exposure risks.
Safe handling of the repair or removal of asbestos materials is essential in preventing exposure and illness. Laws and regulations from the federal to the local level describe how asbestos must be handled to avoid exposure risks.
Not following these regulations can result in exposure and harm. In some situations, it can also result in hefty fines or even jail time.
Regulations for the Safe Handling of Asbestos
Numerous laws and regulations at the federal, state, and local levels dictate how asbestos must be handled in public buildings, workplaces, and residences of a certain size.
The Clean Air Act and Toxic Substances Control Act
Two federal laws passed in the 1970s have had a big impact on managing asbestos contamination. The Clean Air Act of 1970 established that asbestos is a harmful air pollutant. It also gave the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to set standards for asbestos levels in air.
Under this law, the EPA set guidelines and standards for monitoring, handling, and disposing of asbestos. These guidelines set the stage for state and local regulations.
The Toxic Substances Control Act passed in 1976 gave the EPA even more authority to regulate asbestos beyond air pollution.
National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
The EPA developed the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) to help people avoid illnesses and fatalities caused by toxic air pollutants, including asbestos.
The standards include guidelines for demolishing buildings with asbestos and disposing of the asbestos correctly.
According to the EPA, any building (unless the affected area is less than 260 linear feet) undergoing demolition and renovation must first be inspected to determine how much asbestos it contains.
If a certain threshold amount of asbestos is found during an inspection, it must be reported to the appropriate agency, typically a state agency.
Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act and Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act
Older school buildings are important sources of old asbestos materials that pose safety risks. Students and staff can be harmed by old, deteriorating asbestos and by renovations and regular maintenance that disturbs asbestos materials.
These two laws were passed to protect school staff and students. They set standards for the monitoring, handling, and removal of asbestos in school buildings.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Asbestos
OSHA is responsible for setting and enforcing workplace safety standards, including those related to asbestos exposure. OSHA addresses the safe handling and disposal of asbestos across all occupations and job sites.
Because asbestos was used so heavily in construction, OSHA has separate standards specifically for exposure limits and safe asbestos handling on construction worksites. It also includes separate standards for maritime worksites, like shipyards.
An Example of State Asbestos Regulations
In Florida, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection handles reports of asbestos. Like most states, it requires that you hire a professional, licensed asbestos inspector to detect asbestos in homes and buildings.
Trained, licensed professionals must also carry out asbestos abatement. The guidelines for removing asbestos and preparing it for disposal include:
- Wetting all materials that contain the mineral and sealing them in leak-tight containers, clearly labeled, or with thick bags (at least 6 mm and double bagged), sealed tight with duct tape for rigid, non-friable asbestos
- Ensuring there are warning signs, clearly labeled, around the work area, that alerts the public about asbestos
- Wearing protective gear at all times when preparing asbestos for disposal, including a HEPA respirator
How to Handle Asbestos Safely
The safest way to handle asbestos is to leave it to professionals. Asbestos professionals are trained and licensed according to state and federal regulations. They know how to encapsulate or, remove and dispose of asbestos safely.
Asbestos professionals follow specific processes to keep people safe from asbestos during their work:
- Asbestos abatement begins with an inspection and a detailed plan for removal and disposal. The plan also includes securing appropriate permits.
- They then prepare the work area by sealing it with plastic and negative pressure units. They install warning signs.
- Asbestos workers wear appropriate safety gear while working on an asbestos site. They remove and decontaminate this gear before leaving the area.
- Asbestos materials are wetted before removal, and throughout the process, to keep asbestos fibers from releasing into the air.
- The workers contain and dispose of asbestos according to laws and safety regulations.
If you hire an abatement team, ensure they follow these safety guidelines and any other regulations applicable in your state and local area.
How to Report Violations of Asbestos Handling Regulations
Asbestos abatement professionals must follow the law when handling asbestos, but this doesn’t always happen. Take care when hiring asbestos companies. Check their licensing and ask how they plan to do the job. Check with your local government or Better Business Bureau for any pending legal actions or past violations.
If you do encounter asbestos abatement professionals not following the rules, you can report them. Report to your state’s or county’s environmental quality department or the EPA. If violations occur in a workplace, you can file a report with OSHA.
How Is Asbestos Disposed of in Landfills?
Once asbestos or asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are wetted and secured in the proper containers, the materials must be transported to an appropriate disposal facility.
Not all landfills accept asbestos. The EPA designates landfills in each state specifically used for asbestos disposal.
For instance, in Massachusetts, the only available place to dispose of asbestos is the Waste Management Fitchburg/Westminster Sanitary Landfill. Substantial fines are enforced for anyone disposing of the dangerous substance in inappropriate places.
The contained waste material must be transported in trucks labeled as containing asbestos.
Landfills that handle asbestos must have a designated area for disposing of the material. This area should be clearly delineated from the rest of the landfill.
The landfill is also responsible for ensuring no emissions from the asbestos disposal area and that the leak-tight containers used to contain the material retain their integrity over time.
The asbestos area of a landfill cannot be compacted for this reason, but it does have to be covered.
Can Asbestos Be Recycled?
The disposal process for asbestos is generally considered safe if all rules are followed, but it isn’t perfect. Safe disposal requires a lot of landfill area. It must be protected to prevent future exposure.
The Benefits of Recycling Asbestos
Recycling asbestos provides a safer, more permanent solution to disposing of asbestos materials. It eliminates the need to find and protect permanent storage areas.
When materials with asbestos can be recycled, they can also be reused, eliminating even more waste from landfills. Recycling asbestos has the potential to save on costs of abatement and keeps asbestos out of the waste stream.
How Is Asbestos Recycled?
Researchers have been working on methods for recycling asbestos and ACMs that could potentially be used in the future.
For example, a metal pipe with asbestos adhered to it does not need to be thrown out entirely. A chemical solution can remove the adhered fibers to reuse the metal.
Researchers also experimented with mechanical and chemical procedures to treat ACMs to safely remove the asbestos, contain it, and reuse the non-asbestos material.
Another procedure being tested involves changing the fibrous structure of the mineral so that it becomes inert and cannot enter the air where people may inhale it.
More research should be forthcoming into how asbestos can be abated and disposed of while recycling the materials attached to the mineral.
Being able to recycle asbestos will save landfill space, time, and money while keeping people safe.
